Sandy M.'s Profile

COLON THERAPY - I found India via Yelp and went to her after having been "troubled" for a couple of days.  She just moved to this suite so the place seemed a little out of order.  But the CARE I got from her was unlike any other colonic therapist experienced.

What was different about her was not just that a tube gets put in your ass, but she is interested in where and what is inside of you.  She massaged my stomach in a manner that was SO effective.  She didn't just massage in the way of your large intestine with the goal of getting your shit out...but she did it, it seemed, to get your colon to contract and expel somewhat on its own.  

I've been to see her twice and both times I was able to tell that her goal is to clean me out and help me get better, not just to perform the service.

MASSAGE - I am no stranger to massages and have no fear of saying "no" when  being offered additional services.  I had no intention of getting a massage with Lee but he rubbed my neck and shoulders while I was paying for my service with India and I just about melted.  I scheduled a session with Lee the following day (I also had my 2nd appointment with India the following day following the massage).  Lee was so freaking awesome.  Felt like he really got my circulation and muscles going.  Don't expect a therapist who is shy and afraid to get you in places that Burke Williams' therapists won't.  Lee is effective and knows exactly what he is doing and is totally professional.

Will absolutely return to India and Lee.

I've taken SPX Pilates using both the Proformer and the Megaformer at different studios and have learned to appreciate and CRAVE a workout that not simply challenges me but pushes me beyond muscle exhaustion and causes me to sweat puddles.   This studio with Annabelle does EXACTLY that.  I'm completely addicted.  She's insane.  Trust me.  Halfway through one of her classes and that's exactly what you'll be thinking.

To describe Annabelle's SPX Pilates class as uh-maze-ing is an understatement.  She pushes you to a point on these Megaformers that you didn't know you could get to.   Don't wimp out - she'll call you out but it's for your own good.  She wants you to improve your body.  I came to her studio in fairly decent shape, but  I can literally FEEL my body changing and improving and toning up during her classes and I've only been there a week.  Ok, so maybe it's the pain talking, but why would you want to take time to go to class and only give a half-assed effort?  No pain, no CHANGE.  

I've also taken SPX classes with Juliet, Clark, and Jay at this studio and I must say...they're ALL great.  Music is awesome, very motivational (not simply encouraging), and VERY effective.  While I'll admit not one of them can beat the # of effective transitions and energy of Annabelle, I most definitely will take their classes. I'll say Annabelle gets 6 stars and the other instructors get 5.  SO glad to have found this studio!

Also offered here are spinning and TRX, neither of which I have tried.  I'm still working through my SPX addiction.  :)

First time here and had lunch with a party of 6.  

Bread
Linguini with sausage
capellini and shrimp special
chopped house salad with chicken for the table.

Food was very well-prepared, fresh, and delicious and service was great and easy on the eyes.  Do not come here if you're going to eat salad or don't like butter.  Pasta is a must.  It was a crime that we did not have dessert but we were pressed for time.  Must try next time!

Definitely a place to include in the Italian food rotation!

Angie, Beth, and Lacey's classes are AMAZING!  They're teach challenging classes which quickly result in visible changes to your body.  However, you have to be commited and religiously attend their classes 3 times a week, though.  

They command exercises that target the lower body, where you'll maximize caloric burn.  At some point during the 55-minute class with them when your muscles are shaking uncontrollably and they're asking you to do another minute of exercise on that exhausted muscle, you'll think that they're INSANE, but you have to remember:  NO PAIN, NO GAIN!  Oh, and I love their choice in workout music:  hip-hop!

You know a class is effective when your muscles are beyond sore the following day and you know shouldn't take the same instructor 2 days in a row because of that.  Unless you're crazy.  Like me.  :)

I like that this PP offers two studios - one in Encino with the Proformer machines and one in Studio City with the Megaformer machines.  Either machine, with the right instructor, you're good to go!

Were it not for 2 parties going on here on a Friday night, this place would have been pretty dead.  Older crowd..like 40+

Service was good, but the ambiance was just not there. Braised short ribs and roast chicken were the entres.  Chicken was actually pretty tasty but the food alone is not enough to get me to return.

Ribs, chicken wings, mac and cheese, green beans, vodka tonic for me, beer for dining partner.  ALL GOOD!

Service was excellent - waitress was attentive.  TVs all around.  Extra napkins, plates, wipes all brought as part of the package.

Great place to meet up with friends for drinks, watch a game, and just chill.

DP (as in Dining Partner, ppl!) and I came here for an early dinner, around 4, so the place was pretty empty.  Hostess was friendly.  Server seemed a bit green.

We ordered the avocado egg roll only to be told they were...um, not, um, available.  No avocados already?  Ok.  It's not like we got there at 12am and you've turned 75 tables since opening for dinner.  But, guess what was available?  Oh, the more expensive lobster egg rolls.  So we got that.  They weren't bad, but they weren't spectacular either.

Honey chicken.  Again, nothing spectacular.  Huge portion...good enough for 3 people, I think.  

Rolls...red dragon roll and 007.  Hmmm...both were just OK, though i preferred the 007 roll.  Seemed a bit fresher, but neither were stellar.

Food at this place was mediocre but perhaps the evening ambiance would improve the food.  Place seems like a wannabe trendy sushi restaurant.  Would not return.  Definitely not a date place.  Maybe for lunch with coworkers if I worked within walking distance and we were incorporating a liquid lunch with the meal.  And if it was going to be expensed.

We had 830 reservations but arrived around 915 to a friendly staff.  My dining partner and I shared the chicken tikka masala, vegetable dish, and garlic naan.  Food was pretty good...good enough not only to return but also to try other dishes.  Great go-to place.

Service was great.  Place was bustling, loud, and possessed a happy ambiance.  Great venue for a group dinner or a talkative, loud date.

Extensive wine list that we did not partake...maybe because I was already plastered from pre-party partying.  Our little party of 2 may have sounded like a group dinner.

Me:
gym rat
germaphobe
fastidious
Los Angeles-bred

CAC:
I visited this facility on a Sunday afternoon and was immediately impressed with the pristine, unpretentious ambiance.  Quality equipment, wide-open space, ample space between machines, much natural light.  Perhaps a Sunday crowd, but the few members who were present were representing.  Always nice to see at a gym.  Prefer not to work out amongst unfit people.  That's just me.

Personally, the women's locker area will determine if a gym will seduce or repulse me.  CAC easily seduced me.  Lockers and carpet and the numerous vanity stations were clean and well-kept.  Sauna and steam room were pristine.  No mildew smell or icky feeling upon entering the steam room, where I spent about an hour.  The heat was perfectly nearly unbearable.  Showers were also well-maintained.

Blowdryer, curling iron, brush, comb, Nivea lotion, Q-tips at all stations.

CAC is no Equinox Club (Kiehl's line of spa products, eucalyptus steam room, cold towels on the workout floor), but it is easily comparable.  If I lived here, I would undoubtedly be a member.

This is written by someone who grew up in Los Angeles, CA.

The drive up to the Greystone Inn was windy but beautiful.  It is reminiscent of the scenery leading up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.  LOVED the dense greenery!

We stayed in the Jennings Room.  This place is THE perfect place for a newlywed couple to spend an anniversary or a weekend getaway.  I found this resort sooooo romantic and serene and just breathtakingly beautiful.

Dinner in the Lakeside Dining Room was always perfect.  Staff was polite and attentive.  Our first night there, we actually were asked to leave because we had lost track of time and took our wine glasses back to our room.  But, the maitre d was gracious about it...despite my partner's sarcastic remarks.  :)

Breakfast staff was a younger group and...forgetful.  Coffee should be an immediate service, right?  It wasn't.

The staff in the golf shop was super friendly.  The reception desk in the main lobby was...stuffy and not as informative as one would expect.  Directions to a hike trail, whether a local pharmacy exists, where to catch the nightly champagne cruise, etc should be part of the information SOP.  At least that is how I would run the place.

Must, MUST do the cruise around the lake!!!

The grounds were immaculate.  I loooooved sitting outside The Nineteenth Hold restaurant and taking in the immaculate, beauuutiful (and I seldom use this adjective) view.  OMG.

Anyways, I would definitely return to this place!  I had one of the best weekends ever here.